blah, blah, blah

In a an online article regarding the current jobs situation . . .

And there's a silver lining to the gloomy clouds over America's economy.

"The good news is it's so bad right now that we will have a definite, noticeable recovery when it comes," Brusca said. "We're getting a lot of adjustment out of the way early."

In other news, got relatives from Michigan visiting our lovely state. Weather wise, certainly a lot more pleasant than Michigan weather. She's been calling family back home who have given high temps of 15 and 19F. No thank you. Took a couple of day's off of work last week. Will take a couple of day's off next week as well. Some nice time off.

Work wise, we are in performance review mode. Help me please. Can't stand it myself, but then again, I have to take my hat off to the boss who is doing a damn good job of staying ahead of the game and forcing us to stay on track to get it done. And this year could no be more important with the state government indicating they are projecting a $450,000 shortfall in the latter half of this physical year due to lost revenue from natural gas and gasoline taxes. And I don't think they are done counting yet. Hence, hats off to my boss. Upper brass of the University are saying there will be no layoff of staff, but my boss thinks otherwise. About half of the states budget goes to educational institutions of one form or another. We'll see.

And now that companies here, just where has this cold wind come from? The last three day's have been pretty darn windy. I hope this is not the spring winds coming already. Normal E.T.A. for that is round mid to late February. That would be a good sign that summer would be here earlier, but with the Northern and Southern Ice continents getting smaller by ever accelerating rates over the last few years . . . Just what are we going to do.

Had my blood pressure taken today for the first time since the doctor took me off the blood pressure meds about two months ago: 138 / 92 - shit!

Well back to the R and R thing. I think I'll check out Carries blog next then call it a night. Will be back at my mom's house tomorrow to hang with company. Will work next week Wednesday and Thursday. I know it's tough, but somebodies got to do it.

Check

Saturday:
R-n-R on the hiking trail - check.
Take down Christmas tree - check.
Disassemble electronic chassis - check.
Sort through cookbooks - check.

Sunday:
Laundry - check.
Recycle glass - check.
Yeast test: various "sugars" and temps - check.
Homemade Enchilada dinner - check.
Russian variety show (in 50 minutes).

Monday: (Tentative)
Make homemade bread - uncheck.
Clean house more - uncheck.
Work on work performance review - (definite) uncheck.

Zoo

A trip to the zoo today to get out of the house.

A little up close and personal here.
Alligator land.

And look at this exhibit. What kind of animals are these?



Time for a little color.

Otherwise, laid back today. Yesterday was busy as I helped my mom put away the Christmas decoration in the garage rafters, rearrange the furniture, hang a few pictures and some wall ornamental's. Now she is set for the relatives who are coming to visit at the end of January.

Oh Kelly!

LOOK OUT! I'm on a Kelly Clarkson kick. Have I ever told you how great . . .

Angles

"Angles on the Moon" - by Thriving Ivory

Do you dream, that the world will know your name?
So tell me your name
And do you care, about all the little things or anything at all?
I wanna feel, all the chemicals inside I wanna feel
I wanna sunburn, just to know that I'm alive
To know I'm alive

Don't tell me if I'm dying, 'cause I don't wanna know
If I can't see the sun, maybe I should go
Don't wake me 'cause I'm dreaming, of angels on the moon
Where everyone you know, never leaves too soon

Do you believe, in the day that you were born?
Tell me, do you believe?
And do you know, that every day's the first of the rest of your life?

Don't tell me if I'm dying, 'cause I don't wanna know
If I can't see the sun, maybe I should go
Don't wake me 'cause I'm dreaming, of angels on the moon
Where everyone you know, never leaves too soon

This is to one last day in the shadows
And to know a brother's love
This is to New York City angels
And the rivers of our blood
This is to all of us, to all of us

So don't tell me if I'm dying, 'cause I don't wanna know
If I can't see the sun, maybe I should go
Don't wake me cause I'm dreaming, of angels on the moon
Where everyone you know, never leaves too soon

Yeah, you can tell me all your thoughts
About the stars that fill polluted skies
And show me where you run to
When no one's left to take your side
But don't tell me where the road ends
'Cause I just don't wanna know,
No I don't wanna know

Don't tell me if I'm dying
Don't tell me if I'm dying
Don't tell me if I'm dying

Bailout!

Alright, I've heard it ALL now. These really are rough times!

"Porn Industry Seeks Federal Bailout"

WASHINGTON (CNN) ­ Another major American industry is asking for assistance as the global financial crisis continues: Hustler publisher Larry Flynt and Girls Gone Wild CEO Joe Francis said Wednesday they will request that Congress allocate $5 billion for a bailout of the adult entertainment industry.

“The take here is that everyone and their mother want to be bailed out from the banks to the big three,” said Owen Moogan, spokesman for Larry Flynt. “The porn industry has been hurt by the downturn like everyone else and they are going to ask for the $5 billion. Is it the most serious thing in the world? Is it going to make the lives of Americans better if it happens? It is not for them to determine.”

Francis said in a statement that “the US government should actively support the adult industry's survival and growth, just as it feels the need to support any other industry cherished by the American people."

“We should be delivering [the request] by the end of today to our congressmen and [Secretary of the Treasury Henry] Paulson asking for this $5 billion dollar bailout,” he told CNN Wednesday.

Flynt and Francis concede the industry itself is in no financial danger ­ DVD sales have slipped over the past year, but Web traffic has continued to grow.

But the industry leaders said the issue is a nation in need. "People are too depressed to be sexually active," Flynt said in the statement. "This is very unhealthy as a nation. Americans can do without cars and such but they cannot do without sex."

"With all this economic misery and people losing all that money, sex is the farthest thing from their mind. It's time for congress to rejuvenate the sexual appetite of America. The only way they can do this is by supporting the adult industry and doing it quickly."

So far, there has been no congressional reaction to the request.

From cnn.

Pics

Some pictures taken at the park over the weekend:

Manicured grass. Actually, this one was at a house whilst waling to the park.

Poltergeist.

Shouldn't these critters be in hibernation?

Ah, now some pics at the Botanical Gardens. This is one of many "lighted" fixtures for the Parks River of Lights holiday spectacle. They open the Gardens at night with all sorts of lights. You pay, you see.

Now what you don't see at night is just how all that power gets supplied.

Waterfall in the Japanese Garden section.

And the Ducks have it!

Finally started exercising again today after work for the first time in (I think) three weeks. Did some jump rope, push ups, crunches, and a few other exercises with the bands. The hard part is over! Just got to keep the routine up. In conjunction with this, I got my gym locker renewed at the University. It has been well over eight months since I've been there. I'll get the kinks worked out first at home.

Must Choose

I'm reading a Newsweek magazine from September this morning and here are some moral dilemma questions from an article titled, "Is Morality Natural?"

(1) Would you drive your boat faster to save the lives of five drowning people knowing that a person in your boat will fall of and drown?

(2) Would you fail to give a drug to a terminally ill patient knowing that he will die without it but his organs could be used to save three other patients?

(3) Would you suffocate your screaming baby if it would prevent enemy soldiers from finding and killing you both, along with the eight others hiding out with you?

Is there a right or wrong answer? Twist your brain more and take part in a University study here.